Welded railway car



Jan. 6, 1931. H. o. HAVEMEYER, JR., ET AL 1,733,292

WELDED RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 13, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l WM. I

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INVENTORS wiTNEssE's fill? Qfiueme e221 ZZM. WWI/L .fafil gfla/zlie d w? ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1931- H. o. HAVEMEYER, JR, ET AL 1,788,292

WELDED RAILWAY CAR 'Filed Sept. 13, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ullllllllllllllllllj ATTORNEYS v I v afar/e172 zI-JZ' 5 4 920% 1 0 52 71 JI I Jan. 6, 1931, H. o. HAVEMEYER, JR., ET AL 1,788,292

WELDED RAILWAY CAR I Filed Sept. 15. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS WITNESSES Q7 ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1931. H. o. HAVEMIIEYER, JR., ET AL 1,788,292

. WELDED RAILWAY CAR Filed seist.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 0.27

' ave/776 el'f: ZEJJfiJZZfeZZZ ATTORNEYS fi e/Ii .70/2 44 WITNESSES HENRY O. HAVEMEYER, JR,

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES.

OF'MAHWAH, NEW JERSEY, AND JOHN E. MUHLFELD,

OF SGARSDALE, NEW YORK WELDIED RAILWAY CAR Application filed September 13, 1929. Serial No. 392,443.

This invention relates to railway cars, and, has for an object to provide an improved construction wherein the parts are made in such a manner as to be welded together and yet present an exceptionally strong, efficient structure.

A further object of theinvention is to pro vide a structure for railway cars wherein the parts may be welded together, and the idea carried out in diiferent kinds of cars, as for instance, gondolas, hopper cars, freight cars, or even passenger coaches.

A further object, more specifically, is toprovide an improved construction of railway car wherein the parts may be quickly an readily assembled and then secured in place by welding, so that'the entire car structure outsi e of the running gear will be substantially an integral formation.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side view of a car structure or body disclosing an embodiment of the invention Figure 2 is a sectional View through Figure 1 on the line 22; Figure 3 is a. view of the under frame of V the car body shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through Figure 1 on the line 14, the same being on an en larged scale; V

Figure 5 is a sectional view through Figure 1 on the line 55, the same being on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a pair of floor beams providing certain features of the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a bolster;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through Figure 4 on the line 88;

Figure 9 is a sectional view through Figure 5 on the line 99;

Figure 10 is a detail fragmentary sectional view through two of the plates at the point where they abut, the same showing a'cer'tain form of weld; I

Figure 11. is a plan view of a group of plates or panels forming the shell of the car;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the plates or panels interlocked;

, Figure 13 is a sectional view through Figure 12 on the line 1313;

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view through Figure 12 on the line 14-14;

Figure 15 is a side view of a closed freight car; a v

Figure 16 is a sectional view through Figure 15 on the line 1616;

Figure 17 is an end view of the car shown in Figure 1, except that the upper frameis welded along the top central line instead of being formed in one piece;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 15 approximately on the line 18-18;

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing a modified form of weld.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the general structure shown in Figure 3 which forms the under frame, 2 the shell or body, and 3 the upper'frame or bracing structure. The shell or body 2 is formed from a plurality of plates or panels 4 of sheet metal bent until they are substantially U-shaped in cross-section, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 4 and 5. These panels or sheets are arranged toabut, as shown in Fig. 2, and the abutting edges are connected by lines of welding 5 shown more or less in detail in Fig. 19. This Welding may be done in any desired manner, as for instance, by an ordinary arc-welding apparatus. The weld may be continuous which is a desirable structure, or the parts may be welded in spots without departing from the spirit of the invention. End sheets fi are welded at the two sides and bottom to the end panel 4:, said end sheets being preferably c0r. rugated, as shown in Fig. 5 in order to produce a braced structure. By providing two end panels 6 and a series of panels 4 as just described andshown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, a complete open or gondola car body is provided. In order to brace and properly support the panels 4 and 6, the upper frame or bracing structure 3 is used. This structure consists of bracing irons 7 T-shaped in cross-section arranged at substantially equal spaced distances, as shown in Fig. 1 and welded to the under frame 1. In addition to the bracing bars 7, smaller auxiliary bracing bars 8 are provided at spaced intervals preferably at an equal distance between the bars 7. Both sets of bars 7 and 8 are welded to the shell 2 preferably by suitable spot welding, though a continuous welded seammay be used, if desired. Arranged on the top edge of the shell 2 is a top rail 9 preferably welded at suitable intervals to the shell 2 and also to the bracing bars or beams 7 and 8. This top rail consists of a fiat portion with a rounded bead at the outer edge and a depending flange at the'inner. edge, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. Also, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the beams or bars 7 extend downwardly past the bottom of the shell 2' and are welded to the ends of the respective floor beams 10 and to the ends of the bolsters 11. In this way the braces or frame 3 are connected or formed substantially integral with the under frame 1. In addition, the panels or sheets 4 arepreferably welded by spot welding to the beams 10 and to the bolsters 11.

In Fig. 3 a top view of the under frame is shown, and from this it will be seen that there is a bolster 11 near each end of the car, said bolsters being designated to receive the usual center plates 12 (Fig. 5), whereby the car structure may be mounted on suitable trucks. Each of the bolsters 11 is braced with diagonally-bracing bars 13 and 14 welded to the ends of the bolsters and to the respective sills 15 and 16. A channel iron 17 is welded to the ends of the sills 15 and 16 at each end and the lower edges of the end plates 6 are welded to these channel irons. The sills 15 and 16 extend the full length of the car and form a central supporting beam to which all of the fioorbeams 10 and bolsters 11 are welded. As above stated, the sills 15 and 16 extend for the full length of the car, but the connecting plate 18 extends from one bolster to the other. Auxiliary connecting plates 19 and 20 extend from their respective bolsters to the respective channel irons at the ends of the car. All of these plates-are welded to the sills 15 and 16 and also suitable separating plates 21 are welded to the lower surface of the sills at suitable intervals. It will thus be seen that the separating plates 21, the plates 18 to 20 inclusive and the sills form a rigid beam which acts as the center of the under frame 1. i

The floor beams 10 are formed as shown in Fig. 6, namely, of I-beam members out so that the web .of the respective members 22 r and 23 will have projections which fit against the web of the sills'15 and 16, while the top and bottom chords fit against the chords of the sills, and then the parts areall welded together. In addition, the members 22 and 23 are welded to the shell 2, as shown in Fig. 8. Preferably, lines of welding26 and 27 are provided, said lines of welding being member 28 is cut away at the center and also I the web 29 is cut away at the center, while the upper chord member 30 extends from one end of the bolster to the other. This is also seen in Fig. 3. The central section 30 of chord 3O rests on top of the sills 15 and 16, while the extensions 31 and 32 fit against the Web of the sills and are welded thereto by a suitable welding action of an arc-welding implement. Also, the ends of the bolsters-are welded to certainof the bracing bars 7 As indicated in Fig. 9, each of the bolsters 11 is made up-of a plurality of parts, the web 29 being welded to the chord 30 and to the chord '28. Chord 30 is also secured by welding 33 and 34 to the shell 2. Also, if desired, the usual reinforcing covering plate 35 may be welded to the chord 28 and to the lower part of the sills 15 and 16, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the above description it will be seen that the under frame 11 is made up of a number of parts welded together, and these parts are welded both to the bracing upper frame 3, as well as to the shell 2, which in turn is welded tothe upper frame so that all the parts at their various points of contact are secured together by electric welding, and consequently, the parts are not only properly braced, but present a substantially integral structure throughout, so that strain on any part is transmitted to adjacent parts and therefore is readily taken up.

As. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the panels or sheets 4 abut and are secured together by suitable welding'of the type shown in Figs. 10 and 19. Under some circumstances it is desirable to overlap the panels or sheets as illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive. By overlapping the sheets in this manner they may be made of the same size and stiffened by the overlapping, as well as present a structure which may be welded in an eflicient manner. Each of the panels or sheets 36, 37, 38 and 39 are formed U-shaped in a similar manner to the panels shown in Fig. 2, but in order to cause a proper overlapping, panels 36 and I 38 are notched, panel 36 being formed with a single notch 40 and panel 38 being formed -with notches 41 and 42. The panels 37 and semblage, as shown in Fig. 12, from one end or from a section. the structure will appear as shown in Fig. 13. The panels may be connected together by spot welding along the overlapped parts, or a continuous welded seam may be used. In Fig. 14 it will be noted a that the seams 44 and 45 are provided. one seam being interiorly of the panel and the other exteriorly.

The invention is a1.)plicable to closed freight cars commonly known as box cars, and from Figs. 15 to 18 inclusive an embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a box car. I11 this form of the invention the panels 4. and 4 are connected together at their top and bottom edges 46 and 47 by suitable lines of welding, and thereby the shell or body of the car is produced. An upper or bracing frame is formed by having bracing bars 4:9. formed into U-shaped structures and then fitted over the shell to which they are secured by spot welding or other form of welding. The extreme lower ends of the various bars 49 overlap the respective floor beams 10 and bolsters 11 according to the position of the bars 49, so that they may be welded thereto. In this form of car diagonal braces 50 are provided which brace the sides of the car and which are preferably Welded to the shell and also to adjacent bars 49. The under frame consisting of bolsters l1 and other parts is identical with that shown in Fig. 3, so that no additional description will be necessary. In this form of car the end plates are'welded to the side panels 4 and 4 and may be corrugated as shown in Fig. 17. is identical with that shown in Figs 15 and 16. except that the bracing bars 49' forming the upper frame are made in two groups and welded together along the line 51. As shown in Fig. 16, the bracing bars 49 are formed of one piece and the bracing bars 49' function identically with the bracing bars 49 and are connected in the same manner, except that they are formed in two pieces and welded together at point 51. In forming the body'of the car shown in Fig. 15. one of the side panels, as for instance, one of the side panels 4" is cut away at a central point to make adoor openmg 52. A substantially Z-shaped bar 53 is arranged at the upper edge of the opening 52 and a similar bar at the lower edge. whereby guides and runways are provided for door members arranged to close the opening 52. These door members may be of any desired kind. as for instance, two sliding doors approximately half the size of the opening 52. It will be evident that other forms of door members may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In all forms of the invention there ispresented a shell formed with a plurality of substantially U-shaped panels or plates welded together and braced by an upper frame con- In this last figure the structure sisting of a plurality of substantially T- shaped bars welded to the panels or plates. Associated with this upper structure an under frame welded both to the upper brae: ing frame and to the shell, whereby the parts function as an integral structure with the braces properly positioned to take care of the different strains to which the car is subjected. It will be noted that rivets or bolts are not used at any point, but all parts are welded either by spot welding or what may' be termed a. seamed weld, though bolts may be used, if desired, to secure an inner wood shell for refrigerator cars or for cars needing a shell or inner wood body for any purpose.

lVhat we claim is 1. In a welded railway car, a shell composed of a plurality of substantially U-shaped units welded together adjacent their abut-' ting edges, and an under-frame welded to said shell.

I 2. In a welded railway car, a shell comprising U-shaped units welded together at their abutting edges. a rail fitted against the upper edge of said shell and welded thereto, an upper frame welded to said shell and said rail. and an independent under-frame welded to said shell and to the lower part of said upper frame.

In a welded railway car, a plurality of- U-shaped units welded together at their abutting edges, a pairof end panels welded to the end U-shaped units, and a protecting rail welded to the upper edge of all of said U- shaped units and said end panels.

4. A welded railway car, including a shell body formed with a plurality of U-shaped units and a pair of end panels, said units overlapping at their abutting edges with welded seams.

5. A welded railway car, including a shell formed of end panels and a plurality of U-' shaped units, certain of said U-shaped units having a notch in one end of the bottom part,- and other of said units having a bent section centrally of the bottom adapted" to extend through the respective notches, whereby the abutting ends of two units will be arranged so that half of one unit will telescope within the adjacent unit and the other half will telescope over the adjacent unit,.said telescoping portions being welded together to form a rigid body structure.

6. A welded railway car, including an under frame formed with a pair of centrallypositioned sills, a plurality of sill separators welded to the bottom of the sills for bracing the same, a top sill plate mounted on top of the sills and extending for the full length thereof, except at the bolster positions, a-bolster arranged at each bolster position, each of said bolsters having a chord extending over said sills, said bolsters being welded to said sills and said sill plate being welded to the top of the sills.

7 In a welded railway car a bolster comprising an assembly consisting of a pair of inclined chords extending from the end of the bolster to near the center, a top chord extending from one end of the bolster to the other, and a'pair of webs, one web being connected to each of the first-mentioned chords and both of the webs being connected to the second-mentioned chords, said webs and chords being connected together by weldmg.

8. In a welded railway car a bolster formed with a single top chord and two bottom chords, said bottom chords being connected to the top chords by a pair of webs spaced apart centrally of the bolster, said webs at the center portion being formed with projections and notches, whereby the said webs will fit the web of the sills of the car, while the lower chords engage the lower chords of the sill of said car.

9. In a welded railway car, an under frame including a pair of sills. the respective sills having top and bottom flanges facing in opposite directions. a plurality of floor beams, and a pair of bolsters. each of said floor beams being substantially I-shaped in crosssection and divided into two parts with one end of each part forming a tongue fitting against the web of a sill and the chord against the flange of the sill, said tongues and the ends of said chords being welded to 'a sill. each of said bolsters having one chord and one web thereof removed centrally sufficient to fit over both of said sills, the respective bolstersbeing welded to both sills with the top chord of each bolster extending across the top of both sills.

10. In a welded railway car, an under frame including a pair of spaced sills, means for connecting said sills together. a pair of bolsters welded to said sills, a plurality of floor beams" divided into two parts, each of' said parts having an .end formed with a projection. said last-mentioned ends fitting into said sills. said last-mentioned ends being also welded to said sills, and an upper frame formed with depending members welded to the ends of said bolster and the ends of said floor beams.

11. In a welded railway car, a car body 1 formed of a plurality of pairs of substantially U-shaped panels welded at the top and bottom to present a substantially rectangular car body, an under frame welded to the bottom of said body and an upper frame welded to said body and to said under frame, said upper frame including a plu rality of U-shaped bars fitting against said body and overlapping said under frame.

12. In a welded railway car, a, sheet metal shell forming a car body, an under frame welded to the bottom of said car body, and

body.

HENRY O. HAVEMEYER, JR. JOHN E. MUHLFELD, 

